Automatic step for beds



1964 s. B. HOFFMAN 62,867

AUTOMATIC STEP FOR BEDS Filed Nov. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY W MWM lrrokmsrq Dec. 29, 1964 s. B. HOFFMAN AUTOMATIC STEP FOR BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1962 INVENTOR 570427 .B. 15 011114 drrozmsrs United States Patent Ofiice 3,162,857 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 3,162,867 AUTOMATIC STEP FGR BEDS Stuart B. Hoffman, 1641 Scheifer Ave, St. Paul 16, Minn. Filed Nov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,487

13 Claims. (Cl. -317) The present invention has relation to steps for beds and more particularly to a step which will fold out of the Way when not in use and upon release of a latch will automatically go to usable position.

At the present time there is no commercially available hospital bed step which can be attached to the bed frame, folded away for storage and will automatically move to erected and usable position when a control button is pushed. The need has existed for this type of step for a long while particularly in the case of people who are unable to move in and out of bed with ease.

The device of the present invention presents a foldable bed step which will fasten onto a side rail of the bed frame and fold out of the way underneath the bed when, not in use. When the patient pushes a button to release a latch, the step, under the force of gravity, will swing to usable position. Two support handles automatically raise to position so that the patient has a support to grasp when descending the steps.

The step locks in usable position and will only return to its folded position upon release of second independent latches. The handles or hand rails have to be twisted 90 degrees from their working position and moved against spring pressure to release the second latches. This avoids accidental release and folding of the steps during use;

The step is especially adapted for use on hospital beds, which are higher than most of the beds presently used in homes.

, It is an object of the present invention to present a folding hospital bed step which can be folded for storage andwhen released will automatically move to working position.

It is a further object of the present invention to present a hospital bed step which provides support handles for the patient descending the step.

a -In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a bed step made according to the present invention shown in working position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of the device of FIG. 1

1 showing the bed step in folded storage position;

.FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 55 in FIG. 4 with the bed step in its working position;

FIG. 6 isa fragmentary side elevational view taken in the direction of arrows 5-5 showing the bed step being released from its Working position; and

FIG. 7 is a View taken substantially on the same line as FIG. 6 showing the bed step partially folded.

Referring to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, a folding bed step illustrated generally at 10 includes a main mounting pivot bar 11 to which a bracket 12 is fixedly attached. The bracket 12 is then fastened to a bed frame member 13 with suitable screws 14. The step has a first side frame member 15 and a second side frame member 16. The side frame members each have a collar 17 and 18, respectively, which are pivotally mounted over opposite ends of pivot bar" '11. The side frame members are joined together with a-first gross rod 21 and a step plate 22, which isfixedly attached between the two side frame members. A lower cross tube 23 is attached between the side frame members. When viewed in working position, each of the side frame members 15 and 16 includes a rear vertical member 24, an upper tubular horizontal member 25 and a lower horizontal member 26. In addition, a tubular handle guide 27 is attached between the lower and upper horizontal members and is spaced outwardly from the rear vertical member 24 and extends parallel thereto.

A tubular handle member 30 is slidably mounted in each of the tubular handle guides and has a handle grip portion 31 at an upper end thereof. Each of the handle members has an elongated slot 32 defined through the wall thereof. The elongated slot extends longitudinally and each slot defines a cam notch 33 adjacent a lower end of the handle.- The cam notch 33 is positioned 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the main portion, of the slot. A ramp-like portion joins the notch and slot.

A spring retainer lug 34 is fixedly attached to the interior of the handle member and a compression coil spring 35 is mounted within the tubular handle member. The spring 35 acts between lug 34 and a bottom cap 36 V on tubular handle guide 27. The spring urges the handle member in an upwardly direction.

A footsupport assembly 40 is rotatably mounted in brackets 41 which in turn are mounted to an intermediate cross member illustrated in dotted lines at 42. The foot support is made from a continuous rod 43 which has a pair with respect to the leg members 44, 44 and clamps are utilized to firmly hold the foot members 47 with respect to their associated leg 44. The foot members 47 have rubber tips 51 at a lower end thereof and the rubber tips are positioned to engage a floor surface 52. The clamps 50 are used to adjust the foot members 47 so that the step assembly can be used on any bed, regardless of the height.

A pair of torsion springs 53, 53 are mounted over the rod 43 and urge the foot support assembly to move in direction as indicated by arrow 54. The foot support assembly can be moved in opposite direction from arrow 54 by exerting a force on lever 46 which will rotate the foot support assembly about its pivot in brackets 41. The forwardly extending U shaped portion serves to stop I the legs 44, 44 from rotating past position perpendicular lar members 25. The pivot bar 11 is provided with a separate hole 57 at each end thereof.

extends substantially horizontally.

It is to be noted that the castings are rotatably mounted with respect to the pivot bar 11. With the step in its working or down position as shown in'FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, an outer end portion 69 of a separate rod or plunger 61 enters each of the holes 57. The rods 61 are slidably mounted within the tubular members 25. Rods 61 are each guided by a first elongated collar 62,- which is pinned to its'respective rod with a pin 63 and is slidably mounted with respect to the tubular. member 25. The rod 61 is also slidably mounted within a short second collar 64 which is mounted in the tubular member 25 and abuts against a portion of the tubular handle guide member 27.

A separate spring 65 is positioned between each of the first and second collars 62 and 64. The springs urge the rods 61, which are pinned to collars 62, toward the pivot rod 11 at all times; Pins 63 are slidably mounted in and extend through provided slots 66 in the tubular members 25. A second end portion 67 of each rod 61 extends througha provided opening 69 in its associated tubular The hole 57 handle guide member 27 and projects into the slot 32 in the aligned handle member 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the end portion 67 of each of the rods- 61 .is positioned within its aligned cam notch 33 and an force downwardly on either of the handles in pushed downwardly from their position as shown'in I FlG S l and 2. p With the ends '69 of the rods located within holes 57 the step cannot r'otate'in direction as indicated by arrow 7 1 (FIG. 3) to it's folded position. When the step is to be folded the handles 31 are rotated 90 degrees from position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and then are pushed downwardly against the force of springs 35. The slots 32 receive the end portions '67 of their rods 61 and the handles are thus permitted to be moved downwardly against the force of springs 35. As the handles approach perpendicular to the axis of pivot shaft 11.. The hole 85 aligns with a radial hole 86 in the pivot shaft 11. A

plunger 87 is slidably mounted in the hole 86 of the pivot shaft 11 and a small'spring 90 is utilized to urge the plunger outwardly from the radial hole 86. The hole 86 does not extend all the way through the shaft 11. The plunger thus tends to move outwardly under the urging of spring 90. When the step assembly is in position as shown at 77 in FIG. 3 the plunger aligns with hole 85 and'moves into this hole in the boss 89. The boss 80, of course, is integral with the collar 17 as shown. Withthe plunger 87 in position within hole 85 the step support 7 will be held from rotating back toits normal position.

Gravity acting on the step support will tend to rotate the step assembly in direction asindicated by arrow 91 back to its down or working'position.

The lever 83 is controlled through the use of a control cable 92 which is slidably mounted in a' flexible contheir lowered position, illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. if

1, lugs 72, which are fixedly attached to handle members 30 and are positioned in the sl'ots32 engage their respective outer end portions 67 of the rods 61. As can perhaps best be seen in FIG. 6, each'of the lugs 72 has a ramp-like surface 73 which engages a ramp-like surface 7 7 74 on a receptacle v75 defined in the endportion 67 of each of the rods 61. The pin 63 in slot 66 keeps the receptacles 75 properly positioned. When the handles are pushed further downwardly, the mating ramp-like surfaces 73 and 74 slide past one another and rods 61 are moved in direction as indicated by arrow 76 in FIG. 6 and the 'end portion 60 of each rod 61 is moved out of its hole 57 to position clearing pivot rod 11. When both of the handles have been moved to this position so that the latch rods :61 on both of the end frames are clear of the pivot rod 11, the lever portion 46 is moved by the operator to pivot the foot support assembly in direction opposite from that indicated by arrow 54 (FIG. 2) so that it clears the floor 52. Then the entire step assembly is rotated about pivot rod 11 to position as shown in FIG. 3. It will be seen that the foot support assembly, under the urging of torsion springs53 will return to its normal position as soon as it has cleared the floor.

' As shown in FIG. 7, when the step assembly has started to rotate toward its folded position indicated at 77, the end portion 60 of each of the rods 61 will ride against the outersurface of pivot rod 11. This will prevent the rods 61 from moving inwardly. Thus the outer end .por-

tions 67 will continue to protrude through the wall of handle member 30. Springs 34 will urge the handle members outwardly with respect to the guide tubes 27 and the lugs 34 for spring 35, which are fixedly attached to the walls of their respective handle members 30, will engage the outer end portion 67 .of rod '61. Thus the handle members 3%) will be preven'ted from moving longitudinallyfout of their guide tubes 27 as long as the end portions 67 protrude into the handle tubes.

When the step assembly has been rotated by hand to 3 trol cable housing 93 that in turn is attached with a clamp 94 to a bracket 95. The bracket is integral with the casting 56. The control cable 92 is mounted as'at 96 to the lever S3 and has a control button 97 at an opposite end thereof. 1 The control button 97 can be pushed so that lever 83 will be moved in direction as indicated by arrow 98. The button 97 can be spring loaded to move in opposite direction when 'notin use. Thus the lever 83 will always return to its position as shown in FIG. 4 under this spring loading.

When a patient in a hospital bed, which is normally yery high from the floor, desires to get out of bed he merely pushes button 97 which-in turn will move control cable 92 and lever 83 in direction as indicated by arrow 98. The cam shaft 81"will then rotate and the cam portion will act on cam follower 84. The cam follower 84 will force plunger -87 into hole 86 against the action of spring 90. Once the plunger 87 has cleared the inner edge surfaces of collar 17 the force of gravity acting on the step assembly will cause the step assembly to rotate in direction as indicated by arrow 91. The inertia of the step assemblyrwill cause the unitto move to position as indicated in FIG. 1. As the foot support assembly =has'been previously adjusted 'thefeet will come to rest on floor-surface 52. Once the step assembly is in working position, the end portions 600i rod '61 will be aligned with their respective holes 57 on opposite ends of the pivot rod 11 and the end portions 60 will move into the holes 57 under urging of springs 65. When this happens, the end portions 67 of rod 61 will no longer interfere with the lugs 34 and. the handle to accomplish this action.

its folded position as shown at 77 in FIG. 3v the step is locked in this position. v

The device for locking the step in its folded position, as shown in FIG. 3 at 77 is present only at one of the castings '55 or 56. As shown the locking device is mounted on casting 56. If desired it could be mounted on casting 55. As can perhaps be best seen in FIG. 4, the casting 56 has a boss 80 thereon. A cam shaft 81 is rotatably mounted in boss 80 and held with a snapring 82. The cam shaft 81 has an integral lever 83 which extends at right angles thereto. The cam shaft 81 controls movenient of a cam follower 84 which is slidably mounted in j a provided hole 85 in boss 80. The axis of hole SS -is downwardly against'the action of springs 35 to remove members 30 will be released. Springs 35 will then automatically raise them to their working position and the ramp portion of the slots cooperating with end portion 67 of rods '61 will cause the handle rhembers'to rotate degrees to position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, The springs 35 are of suflicient rate and force The rods 61 will lock the step in working position and as the handlcs'have been rotatedso that cam notches/33 are. positioned over end portions 67, the handles cannot be lowered until they are again rotated 90 degrees. The step is'lockedv in working position.

The step is then available for use until'someone physically rotates the handles 90 degrees and forces them the end portions 60 of rods 61 from their respective holes. Y

The stepiis safe, secure, and easily operated by a patient in bed without other assistance. However, it cannot lower accidentally to cause injury when in use.

What is claimed is: V LA step for a bed having a bed frame, said step comprising: a support member mounted on said bed frame,

a pair of spaced apart sidetrames pivotally mounted I to said support member,

a step plate attached between said side frames, said side frames and said plate forming a step frame assembly and being movable between a first position wherein said step plate is substantially horizontal and extends outwardly beyond the edges of said bed frame to a second position wherein said step frame assembly is beneath said bed frame,

first bias means urging said step frame assembly toward said first position,

first manually releasable latch means for holding said step frame assembly in said second position,

a tubular guide attached to at least one of said side frames,

a support handle member slidably mounted within said tubular member, said handle member being movable between an extended working position and a retracted position,

second bias means urging said support handle member toward said extended Working position,

second manually releasable latch means for holding said handle in said extended position,

third releasable latch means for holding said step frame assembly in said first position, and

third actuator means for releasing said third releasable latch means when said handle is moved to said retracted position against action of said second bias means.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said support member is comprised as a substantially horizontal shaft, and said side frames are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of said shaft.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said shaft has a first radial hole provided therein, and wherein said first manually releasable latch means comprises a plunger mounted in said first radial hole, bias means urging said plunger radially outwardly from said first hole, a boss on said side frame assembly, said boss being provided with a second hole which is aligned with the first hole in said shaft when said step assembly is in said second position, said second hole in said boss being of size to receive an end portion of said plunger to prevent relative movement between said shaft and said boss, a plunger follower mounted in said second hole, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said boss for controlling said plunger follower and movable to position wherein said plunger follower will force said plunger to position completely within the first hole in said shaft thereby permitting said boss and step frame assembly to pivot with respect to said shaft.

4. A stepfor a bed having a bed frame, said step comprising:

a shaft fixedly mounted with respect to said bed frame,

a pair of side frames, each having a collar member rotatably mounted on one of the ends of said shaft,

a step member attached between said side frames, said step member and said side frames forming a step frame assembly movable between a first normal working position wherein said step member is subtantially horizontal and extends beyond said bed frame to a second position wherein said step frame assembly is underneath said bed frame, each of said side frames including a rear substantially vertical member, a front substantially vertical tubular member spaced from said rear member, and an upper horizontal tubular member joining said front and rear members,

each end portion of said shaft being provided with a each of said front tubular members and movable between a first extended and a second retracted position, each of said handle members having a longitudinally extending slot defined therein, each of said slots having a cam shaped lower portion,

a second end portion of each of said rods through one of said slots,

second bias means urging said support handle members toward their first handle positions, said cam shaped portions of said slots in said support handle members being of configuration to cooperate with said second end portions of said rods to rotate said handle members substantailly degrees in a first rotational direction between said first and second handle portions,

means to prevent said handle members from moving from said first to said second handle positions until said handles arerotated substantially 90 degrees in opposite rotational direction from said first rota tional direction,

a dog fixedly mounted with respect to each of said support handle members and each having a cam surface adapted to engage a corresponding cam surface provided in one of said rods, said corresponding cam surfaces being of configuration to remove said rods from their respective holes in said shaft when said handles are moved to said second handle positions,

said step frame assembly being free to pivot toward said second frame position when said rods are moved from said holes,

a separate lug in each of said handle members, said rods being of configuration to engage their respective lugs and prevent said handle members from moving to said first position whenever said step frame assembly is not in said first frame position,

third bias means urging said step frame assembly toward said first frame position,

a support foot pivotally mounted to said step frame assembly and adapted to engage a supporting surface for said bed with said step frame in said first frame position, and a manually releasable latch means for holding said step frame assembly in said second frame position.

5. The combination as specified in claim 4 wherein said shaft has a second radial hole provided therein projecting adjacent one end thereof, and wherein said manually with the second hole in said shaft when said step frame assembly is in said second frame position, said third hole in said boss being of size to receive an end portion of said plunger to prevent relative movement between said shaft and said boss, a plunger follower mounted in said third hole, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said boss for controlling said plunger follower and movable to position wherein said plunger follower will force said plunger to position completely within the second hole in said shaft thereby permitting said step frame assembly to pivot with respect to said shaft.

6. The combination as specified in claim 5 wherein the pivot point of said step frame assembly is located so that the force of gravity biases said step frame assembly from said second position toward said first position.

7. The combination as specified in claim 6 wherein said support foot is pivotally mounted to said step frame below said step member and is movable to and from a first foot position substantially perpendicular to said step, and bias means urging said support foot toward said first foot position.

8. The combination as specified in claim 7 wherein said support foot is vertically adjustable.

9.;A step for a bed having a bed frame, said step comprising: a support member mounted on said bed frame, a pair of spaced apart side frames pivotally mounted to said support member, a step plate mounted to and extending between said side frames, said side frames and said plate forming a step frame assembly that is movable between a first position wherein said step plate is substantially horizontal and extends outwardly beyond the edge of said bed frame to a second position wherein said step frame assembly is beneath said bed frame, first bias means urging said step frame assembly toward said first position, first manually releasable latch means for holding said step 'frame assembly in said second position, a support handle member slidably mounted on one of the side frames, said handle member being movable between an extended working position wherein it can be grasped by a person using the bed step and a retracted position, second bias means urging said supporthandle member toward said extended Working position, second manually releasable latch means for holding said handle in said extended position, third releasable latch means for holding said step frame assembly in said first position, and means on said support handle effective to release said third latch means when said handle is moved to said retracted position against action of said second bias means.

It). The combination as specified in claim 9 wherein the support member includes a shaft and said side frame members are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of said shaft; r a

11. The combination as specified in claim 10 wherein the third releasable latch means includes a spring loaded rod plunger mounted on the frame assembly and biased toward said shaft means on the shaft to mate with said plunger in a manner to prevent rotation of said side frame assembly relative to the shaft when said frame assembly is in its first position.

12. The combination as specified in claim 11 and coportion of each of said rods positioned" to be aligned with and movable and enter toward and away from said shaft, said shaft being provided with means for mating with a portion of each plunger to prevent rotation of of saidside frames relative to said shaft with said step frame assembly in its normal working position and the rods in the first rod positions, separate first bias means urging said rods toward the first rod positions, a separate, support handle member slidably mounted in each of saidfront tubular members and movable between a first extended and a second retracted position, each of said handle members having alongitudinally extending slot defined therein, each of said slots having a cam shaped lower portion, a second end portion of each of said rods projecting into the slot on the corresponding handle, separate second bias means urging said support handle members toward their first handle positionasaid cam shaped portions of said slots in said support handle members being of con-figuration to cooperate with'said second endportions of said rods to rotate said handle members substantially '90 degrees in a first rotational direction between said first and second handle portions, means to prevent said handle members from moving from said fi-rst to said second handle positions until said handles are rotated substantially 9O degrees in opposite, rotational direction from said first rotational direction, means on each of said handles operative to release said rods from the first rod positions when said handles are moved to their second retracted positions, respectively, said step frame assembly being free to pivot toward said second frame position when said rods are releasedfrom their first red position and thereby move to'their second rod positions, cooperating latch means on said rods and operating latch means on said rod plunger and said handle to hold said handle in its second retracted position whenever said plunger has been released and said step frame is in its second position.

13. Astep for a bed having a bed frame, said step comprising:' a shaft fixedly mounted with respect to said bed frame, a pair of spaced apart vside frames,

each being rotatably mounted on one of the ends of said shaft, a step member attached to and extending between said side frames, said step member and said side frames forming a step frame assembly movable between a first normal working position wherein said step member is substantially horizontal and extends beyond said bed frame to a second position wherein *said step frame assembly is underneath said bed frame,

each of said side frames includinga rear substantially vertical member, a front substantially vertical tubular 5 said handle members operative to prevent said handle members from moving to their first extended positions whenever the rods are in their second rod positions, third bias means urging said step frame assembly toward said first frame position, and manually releasable latch means for holding said step frame assembly in said second frame position,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,968 3/54 'Dufiy 1823-789 2,975,436 3/61 Ries 5- 3l7 V FOREIGN PATENTS 266,284 7/ 29 Italy. 904,040 8/ 62 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STEP FOR A BED HAVING A BED FRAME, SAID STEP COMPRISING: A SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BED FRAME, A PAIR OF SPACED APART SIDE FRAMES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A STEP PLATE ATTACHED BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAMES, SAID SIDE FRAMES AND SAID PLATE FORMING A STEP FRAME ASSEMBLY AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID STEP PLATE IS SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AND EXTENDS OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE EDGES OF SAID BED FRAME TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID STEP FRAME ASSEMBLY IS BENEATH SAID BED FRAME, FIRST BIAS MEANS URGING SAID STEP FRAME ASSEMBLY TOWARD SAID FIRST POSITION, FIRST MANUALLY RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID STEP FRAME ASSEMBLY IN SAID SECOND POSITION, A TUBULAR GUIDE ATTACHED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAMES, A SUPPORT HANDLE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID HANDLE MEMBER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN AN EXTENDED WORKING POSITION AND A RETRACTED POSITION, SECOND BIAS MEANS URGING SAID SUPPORT HANDLE MEMBER TOWARD SAID EXTENDED WORKING POSITION, SECOND MANUALLY RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID HANDLE IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION, THIRD RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID STEP FRAME ASSEMBLY IN SAID FIRST POSITION, AND THIRD ACTUATOR MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID THIRD RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS WHEN SAID HANDLE IS MOVED TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION AGAINST ACTION OF SAID SECOND BIAS MEANS. 